Method for Retracting Tissue During Surgery

ABSTRACT

A surgical retractor includes a “swivel” having a string extending from one end and a string extending from the midpoint between the two ends. The swivel is delivered by pushing it out of a tube which is inserted through a small incision between the ribs of the patient. After the swivel is deployed, the tube is removed and the string which is attached to the center of the swivel is pulled to lift the pericardium. When the procedure is complete, the swivel is removed from the patient by pulling the string attached to the end of the swivel. According to one embodiment, the swivel is a cylinder with a blunt conical end. According to another embodiment, the swivel has a sharp end which is covered by a spring loaded collar.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/666,707, filed Sep. 19, 2003, to be issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,341,558, on Mar. 11, 2008, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to minimally invasive surgery. More particularly, the invention relates to a pericardial retractor for use in endoscopic heart surgery.

2. State of the Art

When performing surgery it is sometimes necessary to open and retract soft tissues that envelop or block access to the organs or structures to be operated on. For example, in endoscopic heart surgery it is necessary to suspend the pericardium in order to access the heart. However, tissue retraction is difficult in minimally invasive or endoscopic surgery because of the limits of space and the small number of entry sites.

Several devices exist for the retraction of tissue during endoscopic and laparoscopic surgery. These devices are designed to be delivered into the body through a small incision or through an introduction tube which passes through a small incision. Typically, the retraction devices include a deployable member which is attached to a string or cable. After the device is deployed on the distal side of soft tissue, the string is pulled out of the body, thereby lifting the tissue. (As used herein, the term “distal” means farther from the practitioner and the term “proximal” means closer to the practitioner.) When the tissue is sufficiently retracted, the device is held in place by clamping the string with a hemostat or other type of clamp.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,613,939 to Failla discloses several complex deployable devices. Some of them are difficult to deploy and most of them are difficult to remove when surgery is complete.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a surgical retractor.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a surgical retractor which is suitable for use in endoscopic surgery.

It is another object of the invention to provide an endoscopic surgical retractor which is suitable for lifting the pericardium during endoscopic heart surgery.

It is still another object of the invention to provide an endoscopic surgical retractor which is simple in its construction and its use.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide an endoscopic surgical retractor which is easily deployed and equally easy to remove from the body when surgery is complete.

In accord with these objects which will be discussed in detail below, the surgical retractor of the present invention includes a “swivel” having a string extending from one end and a string extending from the midpoint between the two ends. As used herein, the term “string” is meant to include any suitable string-like member, e.g. a cable, filament, suture, etc. Moreover, the two strings may actually be a single length of string which is looped through the swivel or which has opposite ends attached to the swivel. The swivel is delivered by pushing it out of a tube which, when used in endoscopic heart surgery, is inserted through a small incision between the ribs of the patient. When the swivel member is deployed, the tube is removed and the string which is attached to the center of the swivel is pulled to lift the pericardium. When the procedure is complete, the swivel is removed from the patient by pulling the string attached to the end of the swivel.

According to one embodiment, the swivel is a cylinder with a blunt conical end and an opposite keyed end. The keyed second end is engaged by the distal end of a pushrod which is movable through a delivery tube. The tube and/or pushrod may be hereinafter referred to as a “deployment tool”. The proximal end of the delivery tube is coupled to a housing and the proximal end of the push rod is coupled to a push button in the housing. The push button has a locking ring which locks the pushrod in the deployed position when the push button is pushed. The strings attached to the swivel pass through the hollow pushrod and out of the housing. The strings are preferably different colors so that they can be distinguished one from the other. Alternatively, the strings may be labeled.

According to a second embodiment of the invention, the swivel has a sharp end which is covered by a spring loaded collar (safety shield). The swivel is coaxially mounted on the distal end of the delivery tube. The sharp end of the swivel is used to puncture the patient's chest and pericardium in order to introduce the device. Once introduced, the spring loaded collar slides over the sharp point so that it does not damage any tissues. A pushrod inside the delivery tube is used to deploy the swivel.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the detailed description taken in conjunction with the provided figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a pericardial retractor according to the invention prior to insertion into the patient;

FIG. 2 is a broken perspective view of the retractor at initial insertion through the chest but prior to piercing the pericardium wall;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the retractor with the swivel partially deployed;

FIG. 4 is a broken perspective view of the retractor after piercing the pericardium with the swivel partially deployed;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the retractor with the swivel fully deployed;

FIG. 6 is a broken perspective view of the retractor after piercing the pericardium with the swivel fully deployed;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the retractor with the swivel fully deployed and released to perform retraction;

FIG. 8 is a broken perspective view of the retractor after piercing the pericardium with the swivel fully deployed and performing retraction;

FIG. 9 is a broken side elevation view illustrating removal of the swivel after surgery;

FIG. 10 is a broken longitudinal sectional view of the handle portion of the retractor;

FIG. 11 is a broken perspective view of the distal end of the retractor with the swivel detached from the pushrod;

FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of the proximal handle portion of the retractor;

FIG. 13 is a broken perspective view of the distal portion of a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 14 is a broken sectional view of the distal end of the retractor of the second embodiment;

FIG. 15 is a view similar to FIG. 13 showing the swivel partially deployed;

FIG. 16 is a view similar to FIG. 14 showing the swivel partially deployed;

FIG. 17 is a view similar to FIG. 13 showing the swivel fully deployed;

FIG. 18 is a view similar to FIG. 14 showing the swivel fully deployed;

FIG. 19 is a view similar to FIG. 13 showing the swivel in position for removal from the surgical site;

FIG. 20 is a view similar to FIG. 14 showing the swivel in position for removal from the surgical site; and

FIG. 21 is an exploded perspective view of the distal portion of the retractor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to FIGS. 1-12, a first embodiment of a surgical retractor 10 includes a hollow tube 12 having a proximal end 14 and a distal end 16. A hollow pushrod 18 extends through the hollow tube 12. The proximal end 14 of the tube 12 is coupled to a housing 20 which contains a push-button 22 which is coupled to the proximal end of the pushrod 18.

A bullet shaped “swivel” 24 is removably mounted in the distal end 16 of the tube 12. Two strings 26, 28 extend from the swivel 24 through the hollow tube 12 (preferably through the hollow pushrod 18) and exit through one or more holes 30 in the push-button 22. As used herein, the term “string” can mean cable or suture or filament or wire or other similar structure.

As seen best in FIGS. 9 and 11, one of the strings 26 extends from substantially the midpoint along the length of the swivel 24 and the other string 28 extends from the proximal end of the swivel 24. According to this embodiment, the swivel 24 has a blunt conical end 24 a, an axial bore 24 b, a radial bore 24 c, a shoulder 24 d, a T-shaped keyway 24 e, and a surface groove 24 f which extends from the bore 24 c to the proximal end of the swivel 24. As seen best in FIG. 11, the strings 26, 28 are knotted together in the radial bore 24 c. If the strings 26, 28 are a single length of string, a knot or similar structure is provided at 24 c to prevent the string from detaching from the swivel.

As seen best in FIG. 11, the distal end of the pushrod 18 is provided with a T-shaped key 18 a. This key is adapted to engage the keyway 24 e in the proximal end of the swivel 24 prior to deployment of the swivel. This coupling is suggested in FIGS. 4 and 6. When the pushrod and swivel are coupled in this way, the proximal end of the swivel 24 up to the shoulder 24 d is received by the distal end of the tube 12.

Turning now to FIGS. 10 and 12, the housing 20 has two parts: a distal ferrule 20 a and a proximal cover 20 b. The distal ferrule 20 a is force fit onto annular ridges 14 a at the proximal end 14 of the hollow tube 12 and the cover 20 b is force fit or sonically welded to the ferrule 20 a. The proximal cover 20 b includes an interior locking groove 20 c and a proximal opening 20 d. The push-button 22 has a T-shaped profile with an annular groove 22 a at the wider distal end and a central bore 22 b which extends from the distal end to the string hole(s) 30. A locking ring 21 is placed in the annular groove 22 a. The proximal end of the pushrod 18 is provided with an annular groove 18 b which receives a thrust washer 23.

As seen best in FIG. 10, the narrow proximal part of the push-button 22 extends out of the proximal opening 20 d of the cover 20 b and the locking ring 21 frictionally engages the interior wall of the cover 20 b. The proximal end of the pushrod extends into the central bore 22 b of the push-button 22 and is prevented from passing through the push-button by the thrust washer 23. From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the push-button may be moved from the position shown in FIG. 10 downward until it reaches the top of the ferrule 20 a which prevents further downward movement. When the push-button 22 is fully depressed, the locking ring 21 engages the locking groove 20 c and prevents the button from moving proximally.

Turning now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the initial state of the retractor 10 has the push-button 22 in the proximalmost position with the swivel 24 coupled to the pushrod as previously described and the proximal end of the swivel embraced by (i.e. inside) the distal end 16 of the tube 12. It will be appreciated that in this state, the string 26 lies in the surface groove 24 f of the swivel so that the string is not pressed between the swivel and the tube 12.

According to this embodiment, the conical tip 24 a of the swivel 24 is not sharp enough to pierce the skin. Therefore, the first step in using the retractor is to make a small incision in the chest wall 1 (FIG. 2) between ribs 2. The retractor 10 is then inserted through the incision as shown in FIG. 2. The conical tip 24 a of the swivel is sharp enough to puncture the pericardium 3 as shown in FIG. 4.

After the pericardium is pierced, the push-button 22 is depressed as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. This causes the pushrod 18 to move distally out of the tube 12 causing the swivel to move out of the tube as well. At this point, the key 18 a of the push-rod 18 is still engaging the keyway 24 e of the swivel 24. With the instrument configured in this manner, the string 26 which is attached to the middle of the swivel is pulled as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. Because the string 26 extends on the opposite side of the swivel 24 from the T-shaped key 18, this causes the swivel 24 to “swivel” off the T-shaped key 18 a at the distal end of the pushrod 18. When the string 26 has been pulled tight, the keyway 24 e of the swivel 24 is no longer coupled to the key 18 a of the pushrod 18.

Preferably, the tube 12 and pushrod 18 are then lifted out of the pericardium, away from the swivel 24 as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. When this is done the swivel 24 remains inside the pericardium 3 as shown in FIG. 8. Pulling on the string 26 will retract the pericardium 3 because the swivel will remain substantially perpendicular to the string 26 and the axis of the incision in the pericardium 3. The pericardium may be held in the retracted position by clamping the string 26 with a hemostat or similar clamp.

When surgery is complete or when it is no longer necessary to retract the pericardium, the string 26 is released and the string 28 which is attached to the proximal end of the swivel 24 is pulled as shown in FIG. 9. This allows the swivel to be removed from the pericardium 3 and the chest 1 because the swivel will assume a direction coaxial to the string 28 and to the axes of the incisions in the pericardium and chest wall.

Particular features and advantages of the first embodiment include the following. The deployment, use and removal of the swivel is very simple and effective. The keyed connection between the pushrod and the swivel prevents the separation of the two until the push-button is pressed. It also prevents the axial rotation of the pushrod relative to the swivel or vice versa, which could cause the strings to become entangled. The locking feature of the push-button assures that the practitioner will always know whether the swivel has been deployed. Unlike some known endoscopic retractors, the retractor of the invention only requires one entry site to deploy and remove. The point at the end of the swivel is sharp enough to pierce the pericardium (i.e. blunt dissection) but blunt enough to protect other tissues.

As mentioned above, it is preferable that the two strings 26, 28 be easily distinguishable from each other. This may be accomplished by color coding or by labeling.

A second embodiment of the invention is illustrated with no proximal actuator in FIGS. 13-21. From the following description, those skilled in the art will appreciate how the second embodiment can be used with the same proximal actuator 20, 22 shown in the previous Figures or used as shown.

Referring now to FIGS. 13 and 14, the second embodiment 110 includes a hollow tube 112 having a proximal end 114 and a distal end 116. A pushrod 118 extends through the tube 112. In this embodiment, the pushrod 118 is not hollow but has a pair of surface grooves 118 a, 118 b. A swivel 124 is removably mounted on the distal end 116 of the tube 112. A pair of strings 126, 128 extend from the swivel 124 through the tube 112 along the grooves 118 a, 118 b in the pushrod 118. As seen in FIG. 14, the strings 126, 128 are actually a single string looped around a centrally located pin 131 in the swivel 124.

The distal portion of the swivel 124 has a sharp distal end 124 a which is shaped like the point of a trocar (seen best in FIG. 21) and a shoulder 124 b. The proximal end of the swivel has a surface groove 124 c and a throughbore 124 d which extend substantially half way to the distal end. A safety shield 125 having a distal shoulder 125 a and a pair of longitudinal slots 125 b, 125 c is mounted over the distal end of the swivel with a spring 127 biased between the shoulders 124 b and 125 a. A diametrical pin 129 extends through the swivel proximal of the shoulder 124 b and engages the slots 125 b, 125 c. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the distal end of the swivel resembles a trocar used to make incisions during endoscopic and laparoscopic surgery. The proximal portion of the swivel is dimensioned to fit partially into the distal end 116 of the tube 112 and the distal portion is dimensioned to have approximately the same outer diameter as the tube 112. As seen best in FIG. 16, the distal end 118 c of the pushrod 118 is rounded as is the proximal end 124 e of the swivel 124 which abuts it.

From the foregoing, those skilled in the art will appreciate how the second embodiment of the invention is used. Starting with the instrument configured as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the distal end of the safety shield 125 is pressed against the chest wall between two ribs. The pressure causes the safety shield 125 to be pushed back against the spring 127 exposing the sharp end 124 a of the swivel 124. Further pressure punctures the chest wall. When the shield 125 passes into the space between the chest wall and the pericardium, the spring 127 biases the shield 125 back to the safety position shown in FIGS. 13 and 14. Advancing the instrument further pierces the pericardium. The function of the shield is to prevent accidental damage to other tissues and to prevent ripping of the pericardium when the swivel is retracted.

After the pericardium is pierced, the pushrod 118 is advanced through the tube 112 as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16 releasing the swivel 124 from the distal end 116 of the tube 112. With the swivel released, the string 126 is pulled. This causes the swivel to rotate as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16. It will be appreciated that the curved surfaces 118 c and 124 e facilitate the rotation.

When the string 126 is pulled taut, the swivel 124 will assume a position approximately perpendicular to the string 126. The pushrod 118 may then be withdrawn as shown in FIGS. 17 and 18. Retraction of the pericardium is effected in the same way as described above with reference to the first embodiment.

When retraction is no longer needed, the swivel 124 is removed by pulling on string 128. This returns the swivel to a direction substantially collinear with the string 128 and coaxial to the axes of the incisions in the pericardium and the chest wall.

Particular features and advantages of the second embodiment include the following. The deployment, use and removal of the swivel is very simple and effective. When both strings are pulled, the surface grooves on the pushrod prevent the axial rotation of the swivel relative to the pushrod, which could cause the strings to become entangled. The retractor only requires one entry site to deploy and remove. The end of the swivel acts as a trocar and thus obviates the need for an incising tool.

There have been described and illustrated herein several embodiments of a pericardial retractor. While particular embodiments of the invention have been described, it is not intended that the invention be limited thereto, as it is intended that the invention be as broad in scope as the art will allow and that the specification be read likewise. Thus, while a particular proximal actuator has been disclosed, it will be appreciated that many of the advantages of the invention could be achieved without the proximal actuator or with a different proximal actuator. Also, while the tube, pushrod, and the swivel have all been illustrated and described as being substantially cylindrical, it will be recognized that other cross-sectional shapes could be used with similar results obtained. Moreover, while particular configurations have been disclosed in reference to the strings passing through the tube, it will be appreciated that many of the advantages of the invention could be obtained with one or both of the strings remaining outside the tube. In addition, while the invention was designed with the intention that it be used in endoscopic heart surgery, it may be used in other types of minimally invasive surgery. It will also be appreciated that an effective retractor could be made with the central string slightly off the midpoint of the swivel. It will therefore be appreciated by those skilled in the art that yet other modifications could be made to the provided invention without deviating from its spirit and scope as so claimed. 

1. A method for retracting tissue during surgery, said method comprising: a) introducing an elongate swivel into a body cavity and through the tissue to be retracted, the swivel having a first length of string coupled to one end and a second length of string coupled to a point substantially midway between its ends; and b) pulling on the second length of string from outside the body cavity until the tissue is retracted.
 2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: c) clamping the second length of string outside the body cavity.
 3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising: d) unclamping the second length of string; and e) pulling the first length of string to remove the swivel from the body cavity.
 4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: c) releasing the second length of string; and d) pulling the first length of string to remove the swivel from the body cavity. 